Cravens Blog

Simon To Judge Cup of Excellence

On May 9th I travel to Costa Rica as a Cup of Excellence® Judge. I first served on this distinguished panel in 2005 proudly supporting a movement that fundamentally changes what we know is possible in exemplary coffee. For years great coffees have been blended away with very little recognition of the individual farmer or the unique flavor profiles of a region. For the Cravens Customer who appreciates top quality coffees, the Cup of Excellence® award is a guarantee of the best! I look forward to sharing the 2011 Costa Rica Cup of Excellence® experience upon my return later this month. In the meantime, here are some fundamentals you might enjoy…

The Cup of Excellence® is a non-profit organization founded by a small group of dedicated coffee experts who, in partnership with source countries and NGOs, developed a competition and auction as a way to discover phenomenal coffees and financially reward the coffee farmer.

Prestigious Jury Selection

Simon judges 2004 Costa Rica Cup of Excellence®

The Cup of Excellence® program carefully selects an international jury of coffee professionals who care about the farmers, the coffee, their customers and each other. “We are proud that our judges are cupping experts who represent every type of coffee company, dedicated to excellence in their work and in their relationships,” states the founders of Cup of Excellence®. As one of the 18 international jurors from 6 different contents, I will spend 1 week cupping 45 coffees a day. The overall objective is to find the truest, purest example of that particular country of origin.

How important is this award to a coffee farmer?
Winning farmers are internationally acknowledged for their dedication to quality. Not only is the farmer given a prestigious award during a national ceremony but the majority of the record prices at auction go back to the farmer. A winning farm, and often the whole region, can expect to receive future visits from roasters looking to buy more quality coffee based on this important recognition. The positive impact on the quality of life for a winning farmer and his family is permanent as the auction money will often be spent on farm improvements or family education which can change their economic livelihood for the long term.

Who buys these winning coffees?
Coffee drinkers worldwide who appreciate the complex flavor and aromatics found in a world class coffee buy and savor these winners. The roaster who buys these coffees cares about providing the highest quality to his customers as well as creating a direct relationship with the winning farmer. The prized coffees are sold at an internet auction to the highest bidder about 5 weeks after the winners are announced. The rising tide raises all boats and at Cravens Coffee we’re honored to push the envelope of quality for you. We look forward to bringing you special coffee from the Costa Rica Cup of Excellence® in the months ahead. Stay tuned…

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